The backlash isn't coming from the 49ers, which said in a statement, "We recognize the right of an individual to choose to participate, or not, in our celebration of the national anthem."

But one-time fans are showing their displeasure by burning Kaepernick jerseys and uploading footage of their fiery ire online. At SFGate, Katie Dowd thinks that's kind of dumb. "If you hate him so much, donate that jersey to Goodwill so someone can at least get use out of a perfectly good shirt."

"How easily we forget," opinies Peter Wade at Esquire. He reminds those who are torching their jerseys of the "many athletes in the past who have not participated in the national anthem or other symbols of patriotism to highlight the problems with America." Among them: Muhammad Ali.

Writing for the San Francisco Chronicle, Al Saracevic calls Kaepernick's move a "noble thought." But the whole debacle has Saracevic pining for the Kaepernick of 2010, whose future seemed "impossibly bright" but who started to crumble in the face of media scrutiny and injuries. Ultimately, "Kaepernick’s protest feels misplaced, the latest in a string of incidents that point to poor judgment and a career gone wrong."

That sound coming from USA Today is clapping. "More power to him," writes Jarrett Bell. "Kaepernick is 28. Malcolm X was 28 when he came out of prison with an evolving self-awareness. I’m twice that old but constantly working on self-awareness. And so is this nation, which Kaepernick shone a light on in his own way."

Those of you who aren't a minority that has experienced racism; be it overt or subtle have no idea what it's like. The white Americans have a 400+ year jump on the African Americans who are the descendants of slaves, when it comes to access to wealth, education, healthcare, etc. Now, we are supposed to act like everything is OK when it isn't. I encounter angry or full-of-hate white men on a daily basis; their faces say it all. I'm sure many would rather we just go away. Not happening. This is the only country American blacks have ever known; this is truly our home; we would not fit in Africa. There are so many stories of having been marginalized that, there isn't enough time nor space to list them all. When I was a child during the '60s, I remember when Boston was attempting to integrate their schools. There was a picture of a black man in suit and tie; carrying a briefcase, being attacked by a white man with a flag pole; with an eagle finial and bearing the American flag! He was attempting to thrust him through! That image has stuck in my head for many, many years. To me, that was the most disrespectful act towards the flag. Simply refusing to stand doesn't even come close. Being hated simply on the basis of race is a most hurtful thing. It's something that white Americans have spread around the world. When I was stationed in Turkey during the '70s, I remember Fazil, a shopkeeper in Yalova, Turkey; warning me about the older Turks that might turn around and look at me once I passed them because, they were told by Americans that blacks grow tails at night! Absolutely a true story. Finally, the most hurtful encounter that ever happened to me; to date, was when I was in San Antonio, TX; studying at the Defense Language Institute. I was shopping at the local HEB supermarket, when, as I walked down an aisle, a little white kid about 3 or 4 years old; looked at me and called me the n-word. I didn't respond, rather, I looked at his mom as if to say; I know where he got that from. It ruined my evening. Racism is a learned behavior that no doubt is passed from generation to generation. Unless that changes, we will have race-related problems in America.

Finnbar

Aug 29, 2016 5:39 PM CDT

EVERYONE is sick and tired of hearing about racism in the US! Racism was brought back on the table as a political movement from 50 years ago and beyond simply because we have a black President who has addressed all of the racist issues from our nation's past and decided to bring it up front as if it exists and is ongoing today so the existing white Americans, alive today, can be punished for it and so only the minorities can come out ahead, deliberately denying equal rights to the whites; he has engaged most of the old black power groups, criminals/felons and otherwise, to get legal representation and become a part of the new American political and charitable voice! Minorities are encouraged through special funding qualifications (immigrant instant loans, welfare, free family medical insurance, free babies/new citizens, & SNAP cards, etc.) to protest how unfair their lives are when comparing them to normal middle-American lifestyles, YET, none of them (none of those protesting and whining who have their free social handouts) have any interest in climbing the ladder and rising up in life; if they did that, they'd have to work and they'd have to incur rising Obamacare, rising taxes and would have to leave their homes and not watch TV all day! Those who do work for their desired lifestyle, remain Americans because they know: no pain, no gain! To make matters worse, if you are an American and you strive to make it to the top, no matter if your family helped you, the government, or you did it by yourself, you are only to be punished IF you DO make it to the top, because (WHY?), because you will then be RICH! OH MY, how dare you become RICH! RICH is bad and everyone must pay for this terrible crime (which used to be the American way!). Obama's first 4 years he sent the NAACP &/or the Malcolm X group to Russia to transact a large contract with the Russian President & Mr. Putin, so none of these whiners have a clue what they are whining about; we, the People, never got to know what their "special meeting with Russia" was about. When Obama stopped oil and gas companies from drilling offshore, he immediately went to Mexico, cut a deal with Mexico, started a drilling company for his brother, and began drilling offshore in the GULF. So, what the American Anthem protester is telling ALL OF US, is that he is NOT an American and he does NOT need to be in this country! This NFL player Kaepernick is a joke and an international embarrassment! He needs to be taken out of our National Football League! NFL? Doesn't that stand for National Football League? (National?) Racism is back and it needs to stop! Racist Black Americans have created the NEW RACISM! The racist minorities need to stop!

CrotalusHorridus

Aug 29, 2016 2:51 PM CDT

Punk *ss *itch make $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ and he hasn't got the balls to stand up for those that gave all during the anthem. He should be very thankful for the opportunities he has in America. Apparently the BIG picture eludes this POS. Get on your soap box after the game and go visit Chicago's Southside if your so concerned about black Americans. They kill each other there by the dozens each month. What an absolute *sshole.